Antibacterial soaps better?

With the swine flu threat among us now, it is not surprising to see certain companies seizing the opportunity to promote their products. Antibacterial hand soaps and face masks are high in demand now. Though I have yet to see an advertisement for face masks, the telly has been overtaken by many commercials featuring antibacterial soaps. Hypermarkets also have these products featured prominently in many strategic locations.

Are antibacterial soaps really better than normal ones? Yes, the companies making them want you to believe that they do offer better protection compared to a normal non-antibacterial soap. The answer is actually no. According to an article published in WebMD (LINK) -

Allison Aiello, PhD, assistant professor of epidemiology at the University of Michigan, headed a group that analyzed several studies comparing people who washed their hands with regular or antibacterial soap. In all but one trial, she tells WebMD, “there was no difference between groups, either in bacteria on the hands or in rates of illness.” In a single study, people who used antibacterial soap did have fewer bacteria on their hands, but only if they washed for 30 seconds, 18 times a day, for five days straight.

They do prevent illness in health care settings, where patients are more vulnerable to germs. But the antibacterial ingredients in hospital-strength soaps are up to 10 times the concentration of store-bought soap, according to Aiello.

“Also, antibacterial ingredients don’t kill viruses, which cause the vast majority of minor illnesses people experience,” she adds. That includes colds, flu, and stomach bugs.

In fact the article goes on to talk about how Triclosan (present in many antibacterial soaps like Protex and Lifebuoy) is present in the bloodstream of many individuals who use antibacterial soaps, higher amounts are present in people from higher income bracket. Triclosan levels are also detected in streams and rivers, presumably from all the soap flushed down the drainpipes.

Dettol uses another antibacterial agent, chloroxylenol. Both triclosan and chloroxylenol are toxic to fish.

10 times more protection...? Hmm...

Personally I've used dettol before, but I've stopped using it since it made my hands very dry and cracked. Chloroxylenol is also a mild skin irritant, so people with sensitive skin and skin problems should actually avoid using antibacterial soaps which are harsh. Ironically, many people tend to think that their skin disease is caused by some infection and they need to use this strong products - which will make it even worse.

Here are some other links which compare antibacterial soaps to regular ones -
NY TIMES
NEWSWEEK

So if they are no better, why buy it? I guess we know how powerful advertisements can be, especially when they play on people's fear. Sometimes I do use antibacterial soaps as well, like when I am in KFC and I just finished my dinner plate...no choice...KFC outlets all have antibacterial soaps. So the bottom line is this, go for regular soaps...or if you have sensitive skin, try mild cleansers or moisturising ones. They work just as well as antibacterial ones.

A different side to Penang

Honestly, the first thing i think of when someone mentions Penang is food.

Hokkien mee or prawn noodles, one of my faves

A week ago, I took my wife back to Penang to meet some of my relatives who could not make it for our wedding dinner. It was a very short trip, but I think we ate enough for 1 week. Ok lar...it was me who did most of the eating...

During the trip, one of my cousins unexpectedly brought us to this durian orchard in Kampung Sungai Pinang...not far from Balik Pulau (ya...what a name). This is a place that I've never heard of before, let alone been to. I've always thought that Penang is a super high density area (it is in some areas) that is running out of land...but this place changed my thinking. Penang island is bigger than I thought!

Tall durian trees... they say falling durians can kill? Now you know why

This nets are used to catch the 'good' durians

The so-so quality durians have no nets...but they are used to make durian cakes

I thought this was a cactus, but was told it was a dragonfruit plant

Red pinapple

Home made nutmeg drink. Delicious!

Needless to say, we ate durians like the world will end the next day. The orchard owners themselves didn't touch the stuff at all...I wonder if I had a durian orchard, will I be sick of eating durians too.

Happily Ever After?

Recently I read an interesting article in 'In The Black' magazine (formerly the Australian CPA magazine) when I was at my in-laws place for dinner. They had this write up by Thea O' Connor regarding health of couples in and out of marriages. (Online version of the article HERE)

Some interesting points that the article mentions -
- Men derive more health gains from marriage than women. One US study, for example, showed that while non-married men have 250 per cent greater mortality than married men.

- Non-married women have a 50 per cent greater mortality than married women.

- Married women score higher on mental health measures such as optimism, happiness and coping and higher in general physical health than single women or women in defacto relationships

-The stress of conflict within a marriage is also hazardous, as it turns your primary support into your primary stress.

-Professor Janice Kiecolt-Glaser of Ohio State University has researched how marital arguments change our physiology. In her study of 90 newly wed couples, Kiecolt-Glaser and colleagues found that those couples who used sarcasm, put-downs, overt nastiness and dismissals during discussions showed a measurable weakening of their immune system compared to other couples who behaved more positively.

I could not agree more with what was written. Personally after marriage, I don't remember a time where I've felt more in the pink than I have now. My wife has really taken care of my health with her cooking and I've not taken any junk food for quite a while now.

There are times when I do work night shifts and when I do, she will always make sure that I get something nutritious to eat too after I get back. Used to be I will stop by a nearby KFC... -.-"

Nice warm dinner and novel, what else can I ask for? (Cold beer maybe...)

As an appreciation for the hard work that my wife has put in over the month in the kitchen, I decided to let her take a day off and do the cooking for her recently.

Mussels with honey and mustard

Grilled salmon with cauliflowers

So how does it feel to be married? We just celebrated one month of married life last night and it may not be much but its a start. It has not been without conflicts, but thanks to the marital advice of many married friends who have been through more than we have, we have been able to solve many. Its very much a learning process for us and we always have to remind ourselves to have a positive outlook. To all married people out there, remember to treat your spouse with respect always yea.